ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade General Discussion Area To tighten or not?

OK i know is kinda alongs the same topic as the backstapping thread but hears my question;

If you back stap do you tighten down the side screws anyway.

I personaly do, i get this feeling that if not it could arc back and forth on the screw?

ON the other hand if you take the time to tighten it you prob minues well put your wire under it?

SO lets see what the general thoughts out there are. Lets here it fella's

I always tighten down the screws, but I never tape a new device. But, for some strange reason I tape a device I am reinstalling. I guess I figure if I opened it once, I'll be opening it again.

I don't back stab. Some people do to save time. It seems to me it would take longer to do both and I don't know why you would.

I worked as a residential "speed demon" and we always backstabbed and never tightened the unused screws.

I would have rather wrapped the wires around the terminals but it was all about "get it done faster."

If you "backstab" it isn't really necessary,IMO, to tighten the unused screws when using plastic boxes.

New installation. Power just on. I was standing by the panel and heard a click. Mike was testing an outlet with one of those little yellow dodads and, as he was removing it, the little lights went out.
Investigation determined that the minute vibration of remocal caused one of the unscrewed in extra screws had briefly nudged the edge of the metal box cauing the trip.
Conclusion: always srew the extra screws in. Furthermore, a wrap with black phase tape will help.
~Peter